The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music [Live]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Smithsonian Folkways
• ASIN: B000009Q0L
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,095 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Traditional Folk
  • #9 in Music > Blues > Regional Blues > Cajun & Zydeco > Cajun & Creole
  • #11 in Music > Country > Classic Country > Old-Time Country

Editorial Reviews

Powerful new interpretations of Southern musical traditions, recorded live in October, 1997, at the Barns of Wolf Trap. These contemporary versions of songs that either appeared on the Grammy-Award winning Anthology of American Folk Music or are associated with its compiler, Harry Smith (tracks 9 and 19), are a wild mix of styles from "gangsta folk" to gospel, blues, Cajun, country rock, jug band, and more. A stellar group of musicians pays tribute to the past and dramatically demonstrates the enduring vitality of America’s traditional music. Extensive notes, discographies, and photographs. Produced by Pete Reiniger, Jeff Place and Bob Santelli, annotated by Jeff Place and Bob Santelli.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A labor of love, September 28, 2000

By 

Linwood I. Greer (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music (Audio CD)

These live recordings of songs from the AAFM offers warm, loving renditions of a handful of the armload of American musical heritage sent through the years to us by Harry Smith. It's yet another reminder of how important Smith's contribution was. Peter Stampfel's ode to Harry makes me want to hear the rest of the epic and "Nothing" by the Fugs is nothing short of wonderful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Other "Roots" Historian, December 21, 2008

By 

Alfred Johnson (boston, ma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music (Audio CD)

John and Alan Lomax are justly famous for their herculean efforts over many years to gather "roots" music from sources all over the American continent, the bayous, the hollows, the mountains and the plains. Not as well known but as worthy of praise is the work of the "roots" historian Harry Smith, the subject of this tribute CD. During the 1940's and 1950's Smith was working the highways and byways of the South and elsewhere recording whatever music was at hand with whatever recording device he could put to together. No less a later folk historian that the singer Dan Van Ronk remarked that he learned much of his early folk repertoire from the Harry Smith collection. Others, including Bob Dylan, also "cribbed" from the Smith collection. That tells the tale.

This tribute CD is a treasure trove of songs, some familiar and some long forgotten by this reviewer. The most interesting point that always catches my attention on these anthologies is how much crossover there is despite the differences in geography, ethnicity or race. For example, listen to the two versions of "The Coo Coo Bird" here. Or consider "The Butcher Boy" that I have heard under the names "The Railroad Boy" or "In London Town" but which however tells the same old tale of abandoned love and its tragic consequences. And how many versions of "John Henry" have been recorded? The one done here by John Jackson, by the way, is excellent. As is his rendition of "Frankie and Johnnie".

"John The Revelator" done by Ethel Caffie-Austin is the best version I have heard this side of Son House. The lead vocal by Geoff Muldaur of the old Jim Kweskin Jug Band makes "Minglewood Blues" pop. Van Ronk's "Spike Driver Blues" is vintage Dave. Jeff Tweedy and company do a very nice job on Rabbit Brown's "James Alley Blues". The Fugs' on "Nothing" is just the kind of odd ball tune that old Harry was looking for. To top thing off listen to Pete Stampfel on his Harry Smith tribute song "His Tapes Roll On". That is the kind of tune that latter day cyberspace "roots" historians will pick up in order to continue the traditions. Listen on.

0 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough Roger McGuinn, August 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music (Audio CD)

Roger McGuinn is the shinning light of this CD. There should be more selections by him offered in this collection.